Fifth wheel for vehicles



(NoModelQ) I 2 sheetssheet 1. H. H. .UCKOTTER. FIFTH WHEEL FOR VEHICLES.

No. 435,988. Patented Sept. 9, 1890.

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' FIFTH WHEEL FOB. VEHICLES. No. 435,988. Patented Sept. 9. 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFicE.

HERMAN H. UCKOTTER, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGN OR TO THE ANCHOR BUGGY COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

FIFTH-WHEEL FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 435,988, dated September 9, 1890.

. Application filed April 27, 1889. Serial No.308,864i (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN I-I. UCKOTTER, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the city of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fifth-Wheels and King-Bolt Couplings, of which the following is a specification. The several features of my invention'and IO the various advantages arising from their use, conjointly or otherwise, will be apparent from the following description and claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a view, in perspective, of a fifth-wheel, head-block, part of the spring, part of the front axle, part of the double perch, king-bolt, and connections, illustrating myinvention, the view being taken at a point to one sideand somewhat in the rear of said device. Fig. 2' is a front elevation of the combined device shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical central section of the same, taken at right angles to the headblock and axle. Fig. 4: is a view, in perspecfive, of the parts shown in Fig. 1, with the exception that a singleperch is substituted for the double one, and certain modifications are present, the better to adapt myinvention to said single perch, as will be hereinafter 0 more fully explained. Fig. 5 is a vertical central section of the combination of devices shown in Fig. 4, the section being taken through the center of the perch at right angles to the axle and head-block.

' 5 In the drawings only so much of the perch,

ront axle, and front spring are shown as are necessary in the illustration of myinvention.

I-I represents the head-block.

I I is the axle.

Both the head-block and axle may be of the ordinary form.

J represents the semi-elliptic spring socured to the top or upper portion of the headblock by the usual clips J J these clips being secured at the bottom of the head-block by means of the usual bars J and nuts J Further description of the same is unnecessary in this connection.

a represents the upper half or circle of the fifth-wheel. This fifth-Wheel consists, as ordinarily, of the full half-circle located at the rear of the head-block, and is continued forward under the head-block on each end thereof. The forward ends of this circle are connected by a scroll a and the head-block is connected to and held in-place by the fifth- Wheel through the agency of the vertical bolts a (L8, one of which is connected to the upper circle a on the one side, and the other bolt a is secured to the portion of the upper circle on the other side of the fifth-Wheel, the usual studs a attached to the upper circle a, being present. Two of these studs a form a recess at one side of the circle, the head-block fit-" ting between the two and resting upon the circle, and a similar pair of studs a a being present at the other side of the fifth-wheel, the head-block resting between this lastnamed pair. The lower half or circle of the fifth-wheel C lies, as usual, directly beneath the upper circle a, and rests upon and is connected to and held in place by the axle Z.

Into the recesses C on the lower surface of the portion C on one side of the lower half of the fifth-wheel, one end of the axle-bed is received, and the other end portion of the axle-bed is received into a similar recess C in the portion 0* in the other side or limb of the lower circle C of the fifth-wheel.

Rig-idly connected to the lower fifth-wheel at the parts C and preferably integral therewith, is a cross strap or plate C which rests upon the upper surface of the axle between the two portions or arms of the lower circle of the fifth-wheel. This plate C is preferably secured to the axle, preferably as shown by the embracing-clips G G, bolts G one of which clips embraces the plate and axle near one end of the said plate, and the other embraces the said plate and axle near the other 0 end of said plate. Screws C are also preferably employed to secure the plate to the axle and prevent it from buckling up and away from the axle in the neighborhood of the kingbolt, one of said screws being a little to the 5 right of an imaginary vertical plane passing through the king-bolt and the longitudinal center of the vehicle, and the other screw being located a little to the left of said vertical P l I00 The recesses 0 C heretofore referred to, in connection with the said plate 0 clips, and screws, bind the axle-plate C and the lower circle of the fifth-wheel firmly and rigidly together.

On the under side of the head-block lies a strap or plate a rigidly secured to and integral with the upper half or circle of the fifthwheel, one end of the strap being joined to the fifth-wheel in the neighborhood of the recess formed by the studs a at one side of the upper circle, and the other end of the strap attached to the other side of the fifth-wheel in the neighborhood of the recess formed by the studs a at the other side of said upper circle or half of said fifth-wheel. The crossplates J J 3 of the clips J 2 are rigidly fastened to and are preferably integral with the plate 11 and in this way the plate a is rigidly held to the bottom of the head-block by the same clips whereby the spring J is held to the top of the head-block.

Screws similar to O C, heretofore described, are preferably employed to prevent the plate a from buckling away from the bottom of the head-block. One of the said screws being placed midway between the plate J and its adjacent portion of the upper fifthwheel and the other of said screws being placed between the plate J 4 and its adjacent portion of the fifth-wheel, in front of this plate a extending forward, as shown, and to which is secured the front brace e, the preferred mode of connection is as follows: The brace e is provided with the long eye 6', the bolt a passing through the plate a and the long vertical eye 6', and is secured in position by the nut a and the lower end of the brace e is continued downward and under the axle, terminating at the rear of the axle in the kingbolt sleeve E, for the reception of the lower end of the king-bolt.

Returning to the description of a this plate at its inner side is provided with the vertical face or flange a", which lies against the inner or rear vertical face of the headblock. This flange a is suitably secured to the head-block by means of horizontal bolts or screws a. passing into and preferably through the said head-block. This flange or plate carries the vertical king-bolt sleeve A for the reception of the upper end of the kingbolt. The strapor plate 0 heretofore described, connected with the lower fifth-wheel is likewise provided with the vertical plate or flange C, lying at and against the rear vertical face of the axle-bed, and is secured to the axle-bed by bolts or screws G in a similar manner to that in which the plate a,heretofore mentioned, is preferably secured to the head-block. This flange C carries the rearwardly-projecting king-bolt sleeve 0 for the reception of the central portion of the kingbolt.

PP represent the two limbs or arms of the double perch.

B is a vertical king-bolt sleeve embracing the king-bolt between the head-block kingbolt sleeve A and axle king-bolt sleeve O.

D is a vertical king-bolt sleeve, which lies between the head-block sleeve 0 and the bottom king-bolt sleeve E, and receives its portion of the king-bolt. From the king-bolt sleeve B extends rearwardly the strong arm I), rigidly united to the king-bolt sleeve B, and from the king-bolt sleeve D rearwardly extends the strong arm (I, rigidly united to the king-bolt sleeve D. The arm I) is rigidly united to the portion 1) of the perches and is preferablyintegral therewith. The other arm (l is rigidly united to the lower portion or plate d of theperches. The portions 1) and d are formed of metal and provided with end wall or abutment, against which the porch or perches abut.

For the better securing the perches in connection with the fifth-wheel and to hold them more rigidly in place, the portion 1) is combined with the upper perch-box b b, the part b being the outer vertical wall of the box, and the part 12 being the upper or top of the box. The lower or supporting plate d d may, when desired, be provided with flanges similar to flanges Z9 in such event contributing to form a lower perch-box. Each of the perches P P is respectively inserted between its upper adjacent plate b and lower plate I), and its forward outer end resting against its adjacent exterior wall b of the perch-box. The upper fifth-wheel is provided with an extension 0, running rearwardly from its adjacent perchplate Z2 and resting therein, and the adjacent upper perch-plate 11 also perch-plate b, and said arm or brace a are all secured compactly together by means of the bolt, as a". A similar arm or brace a extends from the upper fifth-wheel rearwardly from the other perch P and rests upon the upper plate 1) adjacent thereto, and this perch and its adjacent upper plate b also the plate I) and brace a, are rigidly secured together by means of the similar bolts ct a Where bolts are used instead of screws, of course nuts, as a will be employed to secure them in place. Near the forward end of each perch is a bolt 1). One of these bolts b secures together one of these perches and its adjacent upper and lower plates, while the other of the bolts 1) secures rigidly together the other perch to the adjacent upper and lower plate. In this way and by these means the perches of the upper fifthwheel are rigidly secured together in one firm and compact unyielding structure provided at forward end with rigid king-bolt sleeves B and D. The lower portion of the king-bolt sleeve A is provided with a socket 1. The upper end 3 of the kingbolt sleeve is diminished in size and fits closely within the socket 1 of sleeve A, the edge of the ring 2 of sleeve A resting on the shouldered portion 4 of sleeve B. The lower, end 5 of sleeve B is diminished and fits closely within a socket7 in the upper part of the sleeve 0, the edge of ring 2 of sleeve G resting against the shoulder 6 of sleeve B. The upper end 11 of sleeveD is diminished in diameter and fits closely within the socket 9 in the lower end of sleeve 0, the edge of ring 10 of sleeve 0 resting against the shoulder 12 of sleeve D. The upper end 15 of-sleeve E is diminished in size and fits closely within the socket 13 in the lower end of sleeve D, the ring 14: of sleeve D resting on the shoulder 16 of sleeve E. l/Vhile all the sleeves thusinterfit closely they do not fit one another so tightly as to prevent their turning easily upon one another.

The object of the diminished ends of the sleeves and of the sockets receiving these diminished ends is to prevent the sleeves from slipping by one another, as hereinafter more particularly set forth; Hence the position of the diminished parts and sockets may be reversed or interchanged in relation to the sleeves. Thus, for instance, the sleeve A might carry diminished part 3, and sleeve B carry socket 1, and so on. It is notmaterial which sleeve carries the socket and which sleeve carries the part entering said socket, the main feature of this construction being the interlocking of the sleeves to prevent their slipping by one another in case the kingbolt breaks.

All of the king-bolt sockets or sleeves A B O D E being placed vertically, as shown, the king-bolt F is inserted in place and suitably secured therein,preferably as follows: its upper end of head F resting on king-bolt sleeve A, while its lower end projects below the brace E, and provided with screw-thread, as indicated by the nut f, which, upon being tightened, holds the perches, fifth-wheel, axle, and head-block firmly together. At the same time, the axle and lower fifth-wh eel are free to turn in the usual manner upon the upper fifth-wheel.

Some of the advantages resulting from my invention are as follows:

All of the parts are combined with one bolt.

All the sockets take up the wear and prevent rattle of the parts, and a more secure coupling is also obtained.

The presentlocation of the fifth-wheel at the rear of the head-block and axle, and the location of the king-bolt and itsembracing sleeves at the rear of the axle and head-block, make a very central and strong attachment.

The brace or braces, rigidly united to the upper half of the fifth-wheel as well as to guard e, prevent the sleeves from leaving one another; hence when the king-bolt is broken or lost out, the sleeves of the sockets are prevented from leaving one another, and their interlockin g portions will keep the head-block, axle, and fifth-wheel in their normal position and prevent accident. Should any accident occur, all parts must break, making five chances of safety in the present device over the ordinary fifth-wheel and king-bolt connections now in use.

When it is desired to combine my fifthwheel and king-bolt coupling with a vehicle as heretofore, and in place of the two plates b b and the two plates d (1 one upper.

and one' lower are required to be used, each of these plates being preferably provided with the usual side flanges or walls I) h converting the plates 73 and d, respectively, into recessed structures or boxes for the reception of the perch P. One of the braces a will be omitted, and such a brace, starting from the center of the rear portion of the fifth-wheel, will be at the rear suitably secured to the perch P, and the bolt a will bind rigidly together the plates b d and perch P and braces (P. In the event of using a single perch, it is desirable to provide a brace a extending forward from the center of the rear part of the upper fifth-wheel, and this brace will be rigidly secured to the perch by the bolt'b which latter will bind rigidly together the perch-plates b d and the arm a For the further bracing of the single perch, I prefer to also add the lower brace e rigidly united to the lower sleeve E, and extending rearwardly from said sleeve to the underside of the perch-plate b. A convenient mode of attachment of said perch is by the same perch a, whereby the upper fifth-wheel brace a is connected to said perch. A desirable support for the lower half of the fifth-wheel is furnished in the pillow Z), which is rigidly fastened to or formed with the plate 19 The top of this pillow is recessed, substantially as shown, and in this recess the under portion of the lower half 0 of the fifth-wheel rests and moves. In other respects the construction of the device, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, is precisely like those shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

While the Various features of my invention are preferably employed together, one or more of said features may be used without the remainder, and, in so far as applicable, one or more of said features may be used in connection with fifth-wheels other than the one herein specifically specified. 7

WVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of the head-block carrying the rearwardly-projecting sleeve A, and the axle carrying the rearwardly-projeoting sleeve G, and the perch carrying the forwardly-extending sleeves B and D, and the fifth-wheel having its rear half-circle extending rearwardly of the head-block and axle, the lower half of the fifth-wheel being connected to the head-block and at rear connected to the perch by a brace or braces a, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. The combination of thehead-block, the

upper fifth-wheel circle having its rear portion extending back of the head-block and connected thereto, plate a connected to the head-block and carrying king-bolt sleeve A,

located at the rear of the said head-block and axle, and the lower half of the fifth-wheel connected thereto, and plate C connected to the axle and provided with king-bolt sleeve G, located at rear of said axle, and guard e, located in front of and underneath said axle and provided with king-bolt sleeve B, interposed between sleeves A and O, and also with sleeve D, interposed between sleeves C and E, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. The combination of the head-block, upper fifth-wheel circle, plate a, carrying kingbolt sleeve A, located at the rear of the axle, axle and lower half of the fifth-wheel connected thereto, plate 0 located upon the axle and connected thereto, and provided with king-bolt sleeve O, located atrearof axle, and the guard 6, provided with king-bolt sleeve E, also located at rear of axle, and the perch provided with sleeve B, located between sleeves A and C aforementioned, the perch being likewise provided with sleeve D, located between said sleeves E and O, the rear portion of the fifth-wheel being located in rear of the axle and head-block and in proximity to the perch, the upper half of the fifthwheel being provided with a brace or braces a connecting the fifth-wheel to the perch, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4E. The combination of the head-block carrying the upper fifth-wheel, the upper fifthwheel having plate a rigidly united thereto and provided with kin g-bolt sleeve A, located at rear of the head-block, and the axle carrying lower fifth-wheel provided with plate C rigidly united thereto, said plate C carrying king-bolt sleeve 0, located at rear of the axle, and the perch having king-bolt sleeves B and D united to the casting of the perch, sleeve B being located between the sleevesA and C, and sleeve D between the sleeves B and E, and king-bolt passing through said sleeves A, B, C, and D, and being independent of and separate from the head-block and axle.

5. In combination, the head-block carrying the king-bolt sleeve 0, and the perch carrying sleeves B and D, all of said sleeves being located at the rear of the axle, and the several sleeves interlocking one anotherby means of diminished end portions, and sockets for the diminished end portions, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

6. The combination of the head-block carrying the upper fifth-wheel, the upper fifthwheel having plate a rigidly united thereto and provided with king-bolt sleeve A, located at rear of the head-block, and the axle carrying lower fifth-wheel provided with plate 0 rigidly united thereto, said plate O carrying king-bolt sleeve 0, located at rear of axle, and the perch having king-bolt sleeves B and D united to the casing of the perch, sleeve B being located between the sleeves A and O, and sleeve D between the sleeves B and E, the rear portion of the fifth-wheel being located at the rear of axle and head-block and provided with brace or braces extending, from the fifth-wheel to the perch and secured thereto, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

7. I11 combination, the head-block carrying the upper king-bolt sleeve A, the axle carrying the king-bolt sleeve C, and the perch carrying the king-bolt sleeves B and D, the several sleeves interlocking with one another by means of diminished end portions and sockets for the reception of said diminished end portions, substantially as described, and the upper fifth-wheel rigidly united to the perch, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

8. In combination, the head-block carrying the upper king-bolt sleeve A, the axle carrying the king-bolt sleeve G, and the perch carrying the king-bolt sleeves B and D, guard e, provided with king-bolt sleeve E, the several sleeves interlocking with one another by means of diminished end portions, substantially as described, and the upper fifth-wheel rigidly connected to the perch, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

9. The combination of the head-block and axle, sleeves A, B, C,D, and E, located at rear of the axle, the sleeve A, connected to the head-block and capped over the sleeve B, sleeve B, connected to the perch and socketed in sleeve C, sleeve 0, connected to the headblock and capped over sleeve L, which latter sleeve is connected to the perch, and sleeve E, socketed within the sleeve D and rigidly connected to guard 6, extending forward and at its upper end connected to plate (H, attached to the lower side of the head-block and rigidly connected to sleeve A, and kingbolt, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

10. The combination of the head-block and axle, the sleeves A, B, O, D, and E, located at rear of the axle, the sleeve A, connected to the head-block and capped over the sleeve B, sleeve B, connected to the perch and socketed in sleeve G, sleeve 0, connected to the headblock and capped over sleeve D, which latter sleeve is connected to the perch, and sleeve E, socketed within sleeve D and rigidly connected to guard e, extending forward and at its upper end connected to plate a attached to the lower side of the head-block and rigidly connected to sleeve Aand king-bolt, and the guard 6 connected to the sleeve E and to the perch, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

11. In a fifth-wheel and king-bolt device, the sleeve A of the head-block, and sleeve 0 of the axle and fifth-wheel, the latter and said sleeves A and 0 being at rear of head-block, and perch connected to upper portion of fifthwheel and having sleeve B conjunctively interposed between sleeves A and O, and sleeve D, connected to perch, and the king-bolt passing through said sleeves, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

12. In a fifth-wheel and king-bolt device,

. the head-block carrying sleeve A, and the axle carrying sleeves O and E, all of said sleeves being located at the rear of said head-block and axle, and fifth-wheel located at the rear of said head-block and braced to said perch, and the perch-connections B D,with the kingbolt sleeve 13 interlocking between sleeves A and O and sleeve D between sleeves C and E, substantially as and for the purposes speci- .fied.

13. In a combined king-bolt and fifth-wheel interlocking device, the combination of the upper fifth-wheel provided with plate a rigidly attached thereto, and having flange a, provided with king-bolt sleeve (0?, being rigidly united to plates or bars J of the clips J for holding the spring to the head-block, the upper fifth-wheel being provided with the braces a rigidly connected to the perch, the upper perch-plate carrying arm I), terminating in sleeve B, and lower perch-plate carrying arm d, terminating in king-bolt sleeve'D, and the axle carrying the lower fifth-wheel, having rigidly attached thereto or integral therewith the plate 0*, and the flange O, carrying the king-bolt and sleeve 0, and the guardiron e, carrying the king-bolt sleeve E, and at its upper end rigidly united to the forward extension of the plate a the respective sleeves of the king-bolt interlocking with their adjacent sleeves, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

14. In a fifth-wheel and king-bolt device, the location of the king-bolt and its sleeves at the rear of the head-block and axle and the location of the fifth-wheel at the rear of said axle, the upper half of the fifth-wheel being braced to the perch and the perch-connection with the king-bolt being made to interlock with the adjacent sleeves of the headblock and axle, the perch-connection B being interposed between the sleeve of the headblock and the sleeve of the axle, the upper fifth-wheel circle being extended forward in front of the axle and head-block, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

15. In a fifth-wheel and king-bolt device, the location of the king-bolt and its sleeves at the rear of the head-block and axle and the location of the fifth-wheel at the rear of said axle, the upper half of the fifth-wheel being braced to the perch and the perch-conneciion with the king-bolt made to interlock with the adjacent sleeves of the head-block and axle, the upper fifth-wheel being provided with the forward brace a and the lower sleeve E being provided with the brace e substantially as and for the purposes specified.

16. In a fifth-wheel and king-bolt device,

the location of the king-bolt and its sleeves at the rear of the head-block and axle and the location of the fifth-wheel at the rear of said axle, the upper half of the fifth-wheel being braced to the perch and the perch-connection with the king-bolt being made to interlock with the adjacent sleeves of the head- 17. In a combined head-blockand' fifthwheel and king-bolt, the head-block-provided with sleeve A,located atrear of head-block, and axle provided with king-bolt sleeve likewise located at the rearof the head-block, and perch having sleeve B, located between the sleeves A and O, and socketed into said sleeves A and C, the'perch likewise having the sleeve D, located below the sleeveO and socketed into the same, the said sleeves embracing the Y king-bolt, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

18. In a combined head-block and fifthwheel and king-bolt, the head-block provided with sleeve A and the axle provided with sleeve 0, the perch having sleeve B, located between the sleeves A and O, and also having the sleeve D, located below the sleeve 0, said sleeves embracing the king-bolt and the upper fifth-wheel braced to the perch, the sleeves A, B, O, and D interlocking with one another by means of ridges and recesses, substantially as and for the purposes speci-v fied.

19. The combination of the axle, head-block, king-bolt sleeve located at the rear of the axle, king-bolt, perch, and fifth-wheel, the headblock being provided with sleeve A and the axle with sleeve 0, and perch having forwardly-extending arms Z) and d, respectively provided with the sleeves B and D, the sleeve B being socketed between the upper sleeve A and lower sleeve 0, and the sleeve Dbeing socketed within the lower end of the sleeve C, the upper half of the fifth-wheel being rigidly united. to the perch by the connecting brace or braces a the perch being provided with a pillow having a recess 19, supporting, guiding, and securing in place the rear por tion of the lower fifth-wheel, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

20. In a carriage-gear, the combination of the head-block having king-bolt sleeve A, located at the rear, and the axle having the sleeve 0, located at the rear, and the double perch provided with a solid double metallic casing extending over and connecting together the two perches united thereto, the metallic casing being provided with the kingbolt sleeves B and D, the upper perch-sleeve D being directly between the sleeve A and the head-block sleeve B and the axle-sleeve C, and the lower perch-sleeve being below said sleeves A, B, and O, and the king-bolt passing through said sleeves A, B, G, and D, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

I 21. In a carriagegear, the combination of the axle and head-block, the head-block provided with king-bolt sleeve A, and the axle of the perch being below a horizontal plane passing through the center of the space between the head-block and axle, the perch carrying king-bolt sleeves B and D, the former embraced between said sleeves A and C, the king-bolt passing through these three sleeves, and also through sleeve D, located below sleeves A, B, and O, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

22. In a carriage-gear, the combination of the head-block having king-bolt sleeve A, located at the rear, and the axle havingthe sleeve 0, located at the rear, and the double perch provided with a solid double metallic casingextending overand connecting together substantially as and for the purposes specified.

HERMAN I-I. UGKOTTER. Witnesses:

WM. 11. PUGH, G. A. WV. PARER. 

